Driving Under the Influence

DUI/DWI

Law Office of Matthew Hicks

DUI Attorney Serving Southern California

Have you been Charged With a DUI?

Our Orange County DUI Attorneys have the knowledge and experience to guide you through the legal system. Being charged with a DUI in Southern California is scary. Have an Orange County DUI Attorney help you make informed decisions as your case advances. The Law Office of Matthew Hicks will stand up for your rights and work to minimize the disruption that criminal charges cause in your life.

To see how our Orange County DUI Attorneys can help your DUI case, contact us online or call us at 714-361-4191 to schedule a free initial consultation in our Santa Ana, California, office.

The Basics of a DUI

There are quite a few misconceptions about DUI law. Our Orange County DUI Attorney will help guide you through this often misunderstood area of law.

In California, the prosecutor may charge you with 2 separate counts of Driving Under the Influence, or DUI, under California Vehicle Code section 23152. The prosecution may charge you with 1 count of Driving Under the Influence if you drove while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both. Furthermore, the prosecution can charge you with a 2nd Count of Driving Under the Influence if you drove with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (“BAC”) of .08 or higher.

These are two separate charges. Many people wrongly believe that the prosecution can charge you with a DUI only if your BAC is .08 or higher. However, in California, you may be charged you with a DUI regardless of your BAC if alcohol and/or drugs impaired your driving. If your BAC was a .08 or higher, they will charge you with two counts of DUI.

Although DUI charges are serious, there are effective ways to combat the charges. Breathalyzer tests, for instance, malfunction. Sometimes the breathalyzer test or blood draw are improperly administered. If the police officer lacked probable cause to stop you, it is possible to get the evidence discovered during the illegal search excluded. The prosecutor cannot use excluded evidence in your trial. Excluding evidence may damage the prosecutor’s case. Therefore, the prosecution may dismiss or reduce your charges.

Learn more about DUI Law here.

Our Orange County DUI Attorney has the knowledge and experience to guide you through the legal system. We will help you make informed decisions as your case advances. We will stand up for your rights and work to minimize the disruption that criminal charges cause in your life.

DUI Charges are Life Changing

Let Attorney Matthew Hicks, an Orange County DUI Attorney help minimize or avoid the damage a DUI can cause in your life.

A DUI is a life changing event. Even if it is your first DUI, penalties are steep. You are looking around $1,800 in penalty assessments. You also face 48 hours of jail and/or 90-day license suspension. Your penalties may be far more serious depending on your BAC. For example, those with a higher BAC may lose their license for a longer time.

However, these are just the criminal consequences you face. The personal and social consequences of a DUI are far more severe and long lasting. For example, many people charged with a DUI have jobs which depend on their ability to drive. A loss of license can lead to a loss of employment. Moreover, convictions also can prevent people from obtaining meaningful employment. Furthermore, a DUI conviction jeopardizes your state issued professional license. A loss of professional license will affect your ability to make a living in your field of work.

A loss of job can lead to a cascade of consequences. For example, if you lose your job you may also lose your home. A loss of job also causes stress and financial hardship in the family. A loss of job can also have devastating consequences on your family. Financial stress on the family due to job loss can potentially lead to divorce.

Let an Orange County DUI Attorney at The Law Office of Matthew Hicks Help You

A DUI Attorney at the The Law Office of Mathew Hicks helps people charged with a DUI throughout Southern California resolve their DUIs. Attorney Hicks is an Orange County DUI Attorney serving all of Southern California. He will fight to reduce or drop your charges, or reduce your sentence. The Law Office of Matthew Hicks will help protect your license and minimize the devastating consequences a DUI has on your personal life.

Tell Us About Your Case

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Police encounters are stressful. Many times, people say and do all the wrong things during a police stop. So, what are the right things to do and say during a police encounter? This article is dedicated to giving a brief description on what to do if stopped by the police.

If taken into custody, it is important to exercise your Miranda right to remain silent. This requires you to remain vigilant and not talk about your case at all with anybody. This means you do not talk about your case with law enforcement officials. If arrested, do not talk about your case with other inmates. And although you may need emotional support, do not talk about your case with relatives.

Miranda Rights are often a misunderstood concept by layman. This blog will briefly describe when your Miranda Rights apply and how to properly invoke your rights. This includes your right to an attorney and right to remain silent during a police custodial interrogation. Properly invoking your rights often has a big impact in your case. Learn about Miranda Here.

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